Valve operating mechanism



March l, 1938. vF. c. BEST VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 13,. 1935 n play in the mechanism in order,

' l0 Satisfactory in practice.

Patented Mar. 1, 1938v ifi-"icay VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Frank C. Bost, Detroit,

Mich., assignor to Packard Motor -Car Company, Detroit, Mich., acorporation oi' Michigan Application .rune 13, 1935, serial 26,483

v -26 Claims. This invention relates to improvements in the operating mechanismfor the valves of internal 'combustion enginesandis more particularly concerned with means for eliminating clearance and to secure more ejlcient and quiet operation of the valves.

It has heretofore been proposed to employ take-up devices of the general character indicated, but such devices have not proven wholly Thus it is essential for satisfactory perfomance that such devices be ,capable `of functioning properly over the extreme range offengine temperature, that theybe capable ofjwithvstanding the very thigh' stresses to which l theyl are; subjected when employed with modern highyspeed engines, and that they shall be of t sufficiently small size and light weight to permit of use without adversely aifecting the operation foi"'conventionalA valve actuating mechanism or requiring material alteration of the design of such mechanism.

It is proposed by the present invention to meet these various requirements and to provide a s malland compact device which is of light weight and `which will function, for an indeniteperiod .without any attention, to 'automaticallyregulate orelirninate clearance Vin the valve mechanism. JIn .its more specific aspect the invention is concerned with the provision of a valve tappet which 3u ymaybe readily employed as a substitute for valve tappets or cam followers now commonly interposed between the cam shaft and the valve stem of ,noppetA valves. Itis a feature of the invention that the device, whether intended for use as 3 5 a `tappet or forassociation in some other `way with conventional valve mechanism, may be readilyassembled and sold as a complete unit.

` vIt is a further object of theinvention to provide a device of the character described inwhich a liquid medium is ment of the working parts except when necessary for the purpose of taking up clearance in the valve mechanism, the construction preferably being such that the liquid may completely fill and be sealed within a closed fluid-system', air being thuspermanently excluded from' the system so as to ensure uniformity of action.

y An important feature ofthe-invention is the provision in the device of means 'of a flexible 50"`nature which net only seals in the liquid and` permits expansion thereof and .relative displacement of the moving parts, but which also acts to effect displacement of the parts as clearance Yoccurs in the valve actuating mechanism.. 'I'hus 55 it is proposed, to eliminate the coil spring heretoemployed to oppose displace- (Cl. 12S- 90) fore provided in devices of `this character with resultant simplication of the construction. In the preferred form of the invention sealing is effected by means formed of rubber or rubberlike material of a highly flexible nature and reliquid which is to be sistant to the action of the employed in the system. Y,

y Av further object oi' the invention is to' promote uniformityr of action in devices of the character described by the provision of cooling means, whereby the plurality of devices required for the several valves of the'engine may be maintainedat substantially the sametemperature.

, The invention yiurther contemplates an improved method of assembling a clearance takeup device of the type employingy a non-compressible iluid or liquid, whereby air may be discharged and the introduction of air into the iluid systeml permanently andcompletely eliminated. The method of assembly is preferably such that 'an initial compensation for variation in spacing between the valve stems and the valve cams of internal combustion engines may be effected and precise similarity of function of the devices -used with a plurality. of valves may be ensured.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from thelfollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which l Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of an internal combustion engine illustrating the application oi' the invention to a valve tappet;

Figure 2. is a sectional view of the tappet and associated parts illustrating in more detail one form of the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the tappet shown .in Figure 2 and illustrating the relationship of the several elements thereof before assembly in the engine;

Figure 4 is a partialA sectional view illustrating thedeformation of the sealing means occurring as the result of increase in the volume -ofrliquid when heated; 1

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views'cmresponding to Figure 2 and 'illustrating further modincav tions oi the construction shown therein; and

Fig-ure '7 is an enlarged sectional view of the drawings and illustrated more particularly in Figopening thus serving as a guide for the latter.

ures 2 to 4 inclusive, it will be observed that the valve stem is indicated at I2, the stem being provided with the usual spring seat I3 against which abuts the lower end of a coil spring I4, the latter serving to retain the head II of the valve on the valve seat I0 in the conventional manner. The valve is reciprocated on rotation of the cam shaft I6 which is provided with a radial.

cam I1, thrust being transmitted from the cam to the valve stem by means of a tappet indicated generally at 20, the tappet being supported for reciprocating movement in a guide Ilformed in the stationary member 2l, the latter preferably constituting a part of the engine block and crankcase 22. It will be appreciated thatthe structure thus far described is quite conventional and may assume other forms, the novel features of this embodiment of the invention residing in the construction of the valve tappet 20.

The valve tappet 20 is of the barrel type and includes an outer shell or casing 24 of generally cylindrical shape adapted to slidably engage the walls of the opening I9, the diameter` and length of the casing 24 being preferably comparable to the corresponding dimensions of conventional valve tappets of the non-adjustable or manually adjustable type so that replacement may be readily made without alteration oi engines constructed in accordance with standard practice. The interior of the casing 24 is preferably formed to provide a cylinder 25 within which reciprocates a piston 26, the latter having an outwardly directed stem 28. The casing 24 may its outer end with a closure member 3l)l having an opening 3| receiving the piston stem 28 and This closure member may be formed integrally with or secured rigidly to a sleeve 36, for instance by the spinning over of a lip 3'3 against the outer surface of the closure member. The sleeve 36 is received in turn within an internally enlarged portion 38 ofthe casing 24 with a press iit so as to prevent leakage of liquid and to avoid unintentional displacement. The closure member 30 and sleeve 36 need not seal the outer end of the casing 24; on the contrary, apertures 35 are preferably provided in the member 30- to permit free flow of air into and out of the upper end of the.

casing 24.'

An elastic member 40 which may comprise an annular block of rubber, rubberized material or the like which is resistant tqpenetratiOn or attack by the liquid to be employed, surrounds the piston stem 26 and is surface bonded or otherwise secured to the stem and to the interior of the sleeve 36, for instance by vulcanization. The stem 26 is provided with a longitudinally extending passage 4I communicating at its lower end with a transverse passage 42 and being closed at its upper end by a plug 44, the latter having a recess 45 formed in one side thereof. A further transverse passage 46 intersecting the passage 4I may also be provided in the piston stem 28. The piston 26 and the lower end of the stem'are recessed as indicated at 50 to receive a filter plug 5I of material permeable to liquid, for instance ofa brous nature, and the plug 5I may be retained in position by means of a cup-shaped elecam follower or be provided at lposition in the upper end of the casing 24. lcasing 24 is now no limitation of the scope of the invention is i having an opening 54 therein, the cupshaped element being pressed within a corresponding annular projection 56 at the lower side of the piston 26. The annular projection 56 constitutes a valve seat with which a valve 51 is arranged to cooperate, a coil spring being provided to normally press the valve against the seat and thus prevent flow of liquid from the inment 53,

. ner to the outer side of the piston while permitting iiow in the' opposite direction. A valve retaining member 60 of generally annular shape having a plurality of inwardly is pressed in position in the lower end of the casing 2'4 and serves to limit outward movement of the valve 51.

The piston 26 preferably fits somewhat loosely within the cylinder25; at least there is sufficient play to permit of seepage of liquid past the piston. Alternatively, provided to permit slow discharge of liquid from the closed end of the cylinder 25 into the reservoir which is defined by the outer face of the piston 26 and the elastic member 40. This is esdirected fingers 6Iv a restricted by-pass may be the cylindermay be permitted without consequent outward movement of the piston as the temperature of the engine and associated parts increases during operation. Y

It is essential in order to secure maximum efiiciency in operation that the parts be assembled in such manner as to exclude air from the reservoir 65 and other liquid filled portions of the device. Obviously if air enters the closed end of the cylinder 25, even in extremely small quantity, downward movement of the piston 26 accompanied by compression of this air is likely to occur on the transmission of thrust through ,the tappet, thus defeating the purpose of the iiuid system. If air is-present at any point in the fluid system, for instance in the reservoir 65, it is likely that an emulsion of air and liquid will form which will result eventually in the introduction of air into the closed end of the cylinder 25 in the form of minute bubbles.

In assemblingthe device the following procedure may be resorted to. 'I'he valve 51 and spring 59 are first placed in position in the lower end of the casing 24 and are retained therein by pressing the member 66 in place as shown in Figure 3. The elastic member 40 is surface bonded tothe sleeve 36 and piston stem 26, the filter plug 5I and element 53 are located in the piston 26, and the closure member 36 is placed and secured in The filled with liquid, for instance glycerin, oil, or the like, to a depth of about 3/4 of the length of the casing, and the unit which has been assembled as described is introduced in the casing, the sleeve 36 being pressed downwardly until fully seated within the casing. It will beappreciated that downwardly into the cylinder 25, the displaced liquid passes up through the unobstructed opening 5 4 and through the filter 5I, into the reservoir 65, through the passage 42, and through the passages 46 and 4I., being discharged at the outer end of the piston stem 25. The system has at this point been completely filled with liquid, and the plug 44 is pressed down in its seat in the upper end ofthe piston stem 26, excess liquid being forced out through the recess 45. When the plug reaches its fully seated position, further discharge of liquid is obviously prevented and no air can enter the system.

The tappet is nw ready for use, the reiatiouof as the piston 26 moves.

y .the valve stem i2 50 seal the fluid system lo the reservoir 8B i5 shown in dotted V,aioaeus i parts thereoi' being as shown in Flure 3, and' maybe handled and vshipped as a se1fcontained and 'complete unit without possibility oileakaga'outward movement oi' the pisthey component 6 ton "and stem 2l being resisted by the elasticity oi' the member l0 which has not yet been stressed or deformed in a direction axially of the casing, As herelnbeiore suggested, the compactness of ,the several component parts oi' the device is such that the casing 24 .may be of a -diameter and length comparable tothat of conventional valve 'tappe'tav The spacing between the lower end of to which the tappet is to be applied Aandthe dwell portion oi' the cam I1 is measured land a retainer 68 is placed over the upper end of the block 44. asumcient number oi' shims 'I4 being inserted beneath the retainer toensure. that when a series of valve tappets are associatedin 'operative relation with the several valves of an internal combustion engine. the piston stem 235 of each tappet will be depressed sube stantially to the sameextent from theposition in which itis shown in Figure 3. In other words', it is highly desirable to place the elastic members lo of the several valve tappets under the same degree of compression in order that uniform results may be secured. and this is facilitated by the use oi' the retainer 83 and shims M, although it will be' understood that some other form of manthefupper end of each piston stem 2u.

. as the tappet is placed in position as indicated. f

exerted bythe valve spring i4 to seat the engine the projection valve. The valve El now seats on ually adjustable device may be associated with' C acquire substantially M and prevents i'ree now of liquid outwardly ot the/cylinder.

actuating mechanism, the length of the valve tappet will be expanded by outward movement oi' 'the stem 28 underthe action member I0, the latter and to compensate i'orv expansion of the liquid as the engine temperature increases. Inward movement of the stem 2l on the application oi' periodic impulses to the valve actuating mechanism on rotation of the `cam compressible nature `ot the' liquid .beneath the liquid beneath the piston may be displaced into This displacement expansion of liquid 'Il is in turn permitted by deformation of the ci'. liquid and accompanying elastic member 4l which may assume the positionA lines in liigure' 4 to i afford. in-4 v creased capacity in the reservoir 85.

It will be `observed that' the valve,retainer Il' serves to hold the valve l1 inassembled relation until such time' as the unit isiplaced in operation. 0 The illter plug Il may be used or not as desired it the foregoing method of assembling the elei ments of the tappet is followed there yis little "possibility that air will be present inthe iiuid system. Nevertheless, lin the event any minute 5 quantities oi `air are mesent.l the filter plug will v0n the occurrence of any clearance in the valve initially within the reservoir oi the elastic also serving to completely 55 shaft I l is o! course resisted by reason ofthe inas the temperature increases.

- valve mechanism.

' imity to the guides.

the several tappet about the tappet i at it" is provided lsliding movement in retained in position by provided 'with a or otherwise t'o the .at Il and to the Serving fol' the t y 3 effectively preventthe entry o! suchair into the cylinder below the piston 20 as the piston is displaced, outwardly in taking up clearance in the Itwill be obvious that the tappet is so constructed hat uniform action will result regardless of temperature changes. It may nevertheless be `desirable to provide for the lcooling of the several tappets oran engineso that they may the same temperature in operation. For this purpose it is proposed tocool the tappet guides by circulating the water of the engine cooling system past and in close proxthe member 2| is Jacket 66 illustrated as provided with a surrounding the guide, the jackets for guides of the engine being in communication, engine cooling water being conveyed by cooling system 'adjacent the usual pump to one end of the series 'of jackets and being discharged at the other end, iorA instance by into the main water jacket of the viously the details oi this cooling may be varied to a considerable the enginestructure to which it to' secure eillcient circulation guides. The invention is oi' course usei'ul as a take-up engine. `Obextent to suitis applied and oi' cooling water any convenient means from the The manner in which this may be eilected is indicated in Figure 1 in which a. conduit @t arrangement' device i'or valve mechanismwhether embodied in a tappet or whether employed in some other relation to the mechanism. A further mssible use of the deviceis illustrated, for instance, 'in the application of Cornelius- W. Van Ranst, Serial No. 618.653, ales June as, 1932.

Figure 5 oi' the drawings illustrates another embodiment oi the invention which is quite similar to that -hereinbeiore function. the. principal difference residing in the employment oi an and in other less important details oi construction. Thus the tappet indicated generallyinterior-ly with an upstanding annular ange providing a cylinder 2b' ofreduced diameter* a piston 26. being supported i'ory the cylinder with a t peralterations in i-lre the casing di' 'oi' described in structureY and elastic sealing member of the Ametallic bellows type mitting slight leakage of liquid past the piston.-

The piston properA is substantially cup-shaped and may receive a illter plug 5|','the latter being a ring B3' having a central aperture Il therein, .the /ring 53': being pressed in the lower end of the piston. The piston-also ailords atlts lower end a seat for a valve 5l'. whichis normally retained in seated position by a coilspring Si'. .The A,piston is further transverse passage Il' and at its upper end with-an annular ange I8. The piston stem Il' with the piston ls'guided at its upper end in an opening 3|' in a closure plate lll'. the plate il being secured in position in the casing 24' by means of a locking ring 33'. i A' iiexlble bellows ll' is secured as by welding upper end o! the casing 2Q' illn'se'll which may be formed integrally at 41 so as tcprovide f is completely scaled. in the side wall Vof the in thelower end oi vAn aperture .'H is provided the'casing, these apertures liquid and being and li respectively.

casing and an yaperture 12- lling oi' the iiuid system with i tions is limited. Thus on outward movement the shoulder 29 formed on the stem 28'engagesthe closure member I0', downward movement of the stem resulting in engagement of vthe flange 48 of the plstonwith the upper end of 4the cylinder The remaining elements of the device are unchanged and are designated by the referencenumerals employed in connection with the form of the invention first described.

In this form of the invention the tappet may be assembled by positioning the valve 51' and spring 59' in the lower end of the cylinder 25. securing the flexible bellows 40" to the flange 48 of the piston and inserting the filter plug 5|" in place, introducing the piston in the cylinder and securing the bellows to the upper end of the casing 24', positioning the closure member 30' and locking ring 83' to retain the component elements of `the tappet in assembled-position, and thereafter filling the fluid system with liquid. Liquid is preferably introduced through the opening 1|, pressure being applied if necessary, with the tappet held in inverted position so that when the system is completely filled liquid will flow out of the aperture 12. Both apertures are then closed by means of the plugs I4 and 15 which may be driven in place, and the completely assembled unit is ready for handling and shipment.

In inserting several units in operative position in an engine, use is preferably made of some manually adjustable means such as the retainer 63 and shims S4 herebefore described, a sufiicient number of shims being introduced to ensure that on insertion of the unit in the-engine a small clearance will be established between the shoulder 29 of the piston stem 28'v and the closure member for instance .010 inch.

In its initial condition the bellows is considerably` shorter than is indicated in Figure 5.

0 'Ihus during assembly of the unit the bellows is elongated and this elongation is slightly increased when the unit is inserted in the engine as the result of depression of the piston stem 28. The elasticity of the bellows as y.the result of this deformation is such as to urge the piston stem 28' outwardly to an extent suflicient to take up any clearance in the valve actuating mechanism, liquid flowing past the one-way valve `5l to permit this expansion of the tappet. With such an arrangement it is therefore ordinarily unnecessary to employ any separate 4means for urging the piston outwardly, but if additional force becomes necessary or desirable, a coil spring 18 may be inserted beneath the flange 48 of the piston. However, the use of such a spring is not specifically claimed herein but constitutes'a feature covered more particularly in my copending application Serial No. 26,484, filed June 13, 1935.

On starting the engine, the temperature is rapidly increased and liquid within the cylinder and below the piston expands, a portion of the liquid being forced past the piston. This displacement `of liquid from. the cylinder and the concurrent expansion of liquid within the reservoir 65' requires increase in the capacity ofthe reservoir, this being taken care of by deformation of the flexible bellows 40', the nature of this displacement of the bellows being indicated in dotted lines in Figure 7 of the drawings, little variation in the axial thrust of the bellows resulting from this deformation.

Figure 6 `of thev drawings illustratesa still further embodiment of the invention. In the arrangement shown in this figure, use is made, as in the iirst described embodiment of the invention,

of a sealing means formed of rubber or the like, the principal difference residing in the structure and form of the sealing means. Thusit is proposed in this modification of the invention to utilize a flexible elongated sheath or sleeve 40 of relatively small thickness, this sleeve being secured at its opposite ends to and extending be` tween the casing 24" and the piston 26". Preferably each end of the sleeve 40" is clamped in a substantially U-shaped clip of sheet metal or the like, the outer clip upper end of the 8| having a pressed fit on the lower end .of the piston stem 28" adjacent the piston 26". The outer clip 80 is extended at its inner side to form an inwardly directed generally conical member 84 which serves to reinforce the sleeve 40" and rprevent excessive deformation of the latter.

The construction and mode of operation is othrwisequite similarto that shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. Thus the piston 2B" slides in the cylindrical portion 25 suilicient clearance to permit slight leakage of. liquid past the piston and is provided with a downwardly directed cup-shaped projection 56", the lower end of which affords a seat for the valve 51", the latter being urged outwardly by means of a coil spring 59". Communication is aorded between the liquid reservoir 65" and the interior of the cup-shaped projection 56"'through a passage 50, the arrangement being such that liquid may iiow freely into the closed end of the cylinder but is prevented from flowing outwardly l `by the seating of the valve 51". A` valve retaining member 60 fits loosely in the inner end of the' cylinder 25" and is held in position by means of the coil spring 18", the latter serving also to exert an outward thrust on the piston 26 and thus tending to move the piston `stern 28" outwardly into engagement with the lower end of the valve stem I2 as in the forms of the invention hereinbefore described. A closure member 30" which serves as a guide for the outer end of the piston stem is disposed in the outer end of the casing 24" and is retained therein by means of a locking ring 33".

In this form of the invention the parts are assembled in much the same manner as is the arrangement shown in Figure 2. The valve 51, the spring 59", and the spring 18 are first insertedfin the closed end of ythe cylinder 25". "I'he flexible sleeve 40" is secured to the clips BIJ and 8| by crimping over and the clip 8| is pressed 0r shrunk on the inner end of the piston stem 28"; The unit thus assembled is inserted inthe casing having a .pressed fit on the casing 24" and the lower clip` of the casing 24 with i 24 which has been previously filled with liquid and as the piston is pressed downwardly, the liquid flows out through the passage 50 into the reservoir 65" and is discharged through an opening 83 formed in the wall of the casing 24". As the clip 80 reaches its seating position, the opening 83 is closed and by reason of the press fit between the clip 80 and thecasing 24, the fluid system is thus completely sealed. If desired, a plug 85 may be driven into the opening 83 to further ensure against leakage. The closure mem.- ber 30 is now seated and locked in position by the ring 33", and the device is ready for handling and shipment and may be readily applied to conventional valve mechanism in the manner hereinbefore described in connection with other ernbodiments of thefinvention.

It is of course desired that the sleeve 40 will yield readily to permit expansion of liquid on in'- crease of temperature, and as this sleeve is ordiexible metallic bellows operatively connected beasruy formed or materiai which is quite thin, the inertia oi' the liquid within the reservoir 65"'as the tappet 20'.'

` In all of the forms of the invention hereinbefore described it -is preferred that a separate manually adjustable devicev be associated with the tappet. and similar devices have been illustrated in the drawings, but it will be appreciated that this feature may be eliminated it desired and rein the'drawings and described specifically herein; various further modifications and alterations a closed, liquid-tight system within with a cylinder,

' luder, deformable elastic means including rubber will readily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 1

l Having thus described claimed as newfand desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: I f

. ll. In a valve talle-up device, the combination oifa casing comprising a cylinder, a piston 'reeiprocable in said cylinder, and elastic meansv ted with said cylinder and piston and exerting thrustv therebetween to efi'ect' relative displacement thereof, said elastic means cooperating with said cylinder to form aj sealed fluid system within said casing.

3. in a valve take-up device, the combination oi a casing comprising a cylinder, a. piston reciprocable in said cylinder, deformablev elastic means operatively connected between said piston and cylinder, said means being initially stressed to urge the pistonr outwardly of the cylinder and cooperating with. said cylinder and piston to form said casing. 3. In a valve take-up device, the

a piston reciprocabie in said cyl operatively connected between said piston and cylinder, urge the piston outwardly of the cylinder and cooperating with said cylinder and piston to form a closed, liquid-tight system.

i. In a valve take-up device. the combination with a` cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, deformable elastic means comprising a tween said piston and cylinder, said means being initially stressed to urge the piston outwardly of thecylinder and cooperating withsaid cylinder and piston to form a closed, liquid-tightsyst'em. 5. .In van automatically expansible valve take- `up device, the combination with a piston', of a unitary member aording a cylinder portion for the reception of said piston, said cylinder portion and piston constituting a part of a closed iluid system resisting compression ofvsaid device, and elastic means acting between said member and said piston to yieldingly expand said device.

. said elastic means constituting a closure element tion andpiston constituting ifor said fluid system to prevent discharge of iiuid theoefrom, said iluld system lying wholly; within Asaidfmember.' Y y 6. In an automatically expansible valve takeup device, the combination with a piston, of a unitary membeiaiording a cylinderportion for the receptionl oi' said piston,

a part offa closed iiuid system resisting compression oi' said device, and elasticl means formed oi non-metallic de formable material acting between saidl member.

reciprocates rapidly is likely` to collapse the sleeve. Itis to prevent such collapsel Vthat Athe reintorcingimember I4 is provided;

the reception of precise construction illustrated from.

the invention, what is` combination said means being initially stressed to said cylinder por- A for` said iiuid system to prevent dischargeof uid therefrom. y

7. In an automatically expansible valve takepdevi'ce., the combination with aV piston, of a unitary member vaifording a cylinder portion for said piston, said cylinder'portion and piston constituting a. part of a closed Huid system resisting compression of said vand elastic means formed 4of a materialineluding rubber acting between said member and said piston to yleldingly expand said device, sald-elas device,

and said piston to yieldingly expand said device. said elastic means constituting a closure element tic means constitutinga closure element i'or said fluid system to prevent discharge of uid therel 8. In an automatically expansible-valve takeup device, thel combination with a piston, of a" unitary member affording a cylinder portion for the reception of said piston, said cylinder portion and piston constituting a part of a closed fluidy system resisting compression of saiddevice,` and elastic means 4comprising 'a metallic extensible bellows acting between said memberA and said piston to yieldingly expand said device, said elastic means constituting a closure element for said iluid system to prevent discharge vof iiuid therefrom.

9. In an automatically expansible valve takeup device, the combination with a'pistom of a unitary member affording a cylinder portion for the reception of said piston,' said cylinder portion and piston constituting a part of a closed duid system resisting compression of said device,

- said system being completely iilled with incompressible duid, and means formed of. a nonmtallic deformable material extending between and operatively secured to said cylinder and piston to form a closure ,for said fluid system, said yielding to adiord increased capacity in.

means said system on expansion of the fiuidwhen heated.. l

l0. In an automatically expansible valvetakeup device, the combination with a piston, of a lunitary member affording a, cylinder portion for the reception of said piston, said cylinder 'portion and piston constituting a part of a closed I `-fluid -system resisting compression of said device, elastic means acting between said member and said piston to yieldingly expand saiddevi'ce, and means forv completely sealing said system, said last named means including rubber.

1l. In an automatically. expansible valve takeup device, the combination with a piston, of a unitary-member affording a cylinder portion for the reception of ,said piston,

said cylinder por tion and-piston'constituting apart of a closed fluid system resisting compression of said device, elastic means acting between said member and said piston to yieldingly expand said device. and means for completely sealing said system, said last. named means comprising a rubber sheath .secured at opposite ends thereof to said piston andcylinder respectively. 12. In anautomatically expanslble valve takeup device, the combination with afpiston of a unitary member affording a cylinder portion iorl the reception of said piston, said cylinder portion and piston constituting a part ora-closed uid system resisting compression of said device, elastic means acting between said 'member and said piston toyieldingly expand said device, means for completely sealing said system, said lastnamed means comprising a rubber s heath secured atop,- posite ends thereof to 'saidpiston and cylinder Il fc take up clearance comprising a respectively, and a rigid reinforcing element engaging said sheath to prevent collapse thereof by movement of the fluid within the system.

13. A valve tappet operable automatically to generally cylindrical casing, means carried by said casing for transmitting thrust to a poppet valve, said last named means including a valve stem engaging member supported within said casing for sliding movement in an axial direction, a cylinder assoelated with said casing and having one closed end, a piston carried by said member and movable in said cylinder, said piston and cylinder being constructed to provide a restricted fluid passage from one side to the other side of said piston, one-way valve means including a valve and valve spring permitting uid flow into said cylinder only, spring means urgingsaid piston and member outwardly of said cylinder, and valve retaining means positioning said valve spring and valve in said casing, said valve retaining means being engaged and maintained in position in said casing by said spring means.

14. As an article of manufacture, a valve tappet automatically adjustable as t'o effective length and'of dimensions comparable with those of conv ventional non-adjustable tappets, said tappet including a cylinder and piston which are elements of a sealed fluid system completely filled with liquid, elastic means acting between said cylinder and piston urging the latter outwardly of the cylinder, said elastic means sealing said system against discharge of liquid, the elements of said tappet being secured in operative relation to form a complete and self -contained unit, said fluid system being disposed wholly Within the confines of said casing.

15. As an article of manufacture, a valve tap` pet automatically adjustable as toefective length and of dimensions comparable with those of conventional non-adjustable tappets, said tappet including a cylinder and piston which are elements of a sealed fluid system including said cylinder completely filled with liquid, rubber means surface bonded to said cylinder and piston and urging the latter outwardly o-f the cylinder, said rubber means sealing said system against discharge of liquid, the elements of said tappet being secured in operative relation to form a complete and selfcontained unit, said fluid system being disposed wholly within the confines of said casing.

16. A valve tappet operable automatically to take up clearance comprising a generally cylindrical casing, means carried by said casing for transmitting thrust to a poppet valve, said last named 'means including a valve stem engaging member supported within said casing for sliding movement in anaxial direction, a cylinder associated with said casing andhaving one closed enda piston carried by said member and movable in said cylinder, said piston' and cylinder being constructed to provide a restricted fluid passage from one side -to the other side of said piston, one-way valve means including a valve and valve spring permitting fluid flow into said cylinder only, said piston being provided with a valve-controlled passage with which said valve cooperates, and means for positioning and retaining said valve and valve spring in the inner end of said cylinder, whereby said valve controlled Apassage may remain Aopen duringintroduction of said piston into said cylinder during assembly of the tappet to facilitate discharge of air from said cylinder.

17. In an automatically expansible valve takeup device, the combination with a casing formed to provide a cylinder, of a piston movable in said cylinder, means yieldingly urging said piston outwardly of said cylinder, a fluid reservoir supplying liquid to said cylinder on outward movement of the piston, means resisting rapid discharge of liquid from said cylinder, and means forming with said reservoir and cylinder a closed fluid system, said last named means including a longitudinally extensible bellows secured to said piston at points adjacent the cylinder and to the casing at points remote from said cylinder.

18. In an automatically expansible vvalve takeup device, the combination with a casing formed to provide a cylinder, of a piston movable in said cylinder, means yieldingly urging said piston outwardly of said cylinder, a iiuid reservoir supplying liquid to said cylinder on outward movement of the piston, means resisting rapid discharge of liquid from said cylinder, and means forming with said reservoir and cylinder a closed fluid system, said last named means including a longitudinally extensible bellows disposed wholly within said casing, said bellows being secured to said piston at points adjacent the cylinder and to the casing at points remote from said cylinder.

19. In an automatically expansible valve takeup device, the combination with a casing of generally cylindrical form having an open end and a closed end, said casing being formed adjacent the closed end to provide a cylinder, of a pis-l 20. In an automatically expansible valve take-j up device, the combination with a casing formed to provide a cylinder, Yof a piston movable in said cylinder, means yieldingly urging said piston outwardly of said cylinder, a fluid reservoir supplying liquid to said 'cylinderI on outward movement of the piston, means resisting rapid discharge of liquid from said cylinder, and means forming with said reservoir and cylinder a closed fluid system, said last named means including a longitudinally extensible bellows secured to said piston and to said casing, said bellows being initially stressed or deformed so as to yieldingly urge said piston outwardly of said cylinder.

2l. In an automatically expansible valve takeup device, the combination with a casing formed to provide a cylinder, of a piston movable in said cylinder, means lyieldingly urging said piston outwardly of said cylinder, a fluid reservoir supplying liquid to said cylinder on outward movement of the piston, means resisting rapid discharge of liquid from said cylinder, and means forming with said reservoir and cylinder a closed fluid system, said last named means including a longitudinally extensible device connected between said piston and said casing, the connection of said device to said casing including a member to which said device is secured, said member having a press t with said casing.

22` In an automatically expansible valve take- -up device, the combination with a casing-formed outwardly of said cylinder, a fluid reservoir supplying liquid to said cylinder on outward movement of the piston, charge of liquid from said cylinder, and means forming with said reservoir and cylinder a closed A fluid system disposed wholly within said casing,

said last named means including a longitudinally extensible bellows connected between said piston and said casing. 4 23. In an automatically expansible valve takeup device, the combination vwith a casing-of generally cylindrical form having an open end and a closed endgsaid casing being formed adjacent the closed end to provide a cylinder, of a piston movable in said cylinder, means yieldingly urging said piston outwardly lof said cylinder, a fluid reservoir supplying liquid to said cylinder on outward movement of the piston, means resisting rapid discharge of liquid from said cylinder, means forming with said reservoir and cylinder a closed iluid system, said last named means including a longitudinally extensible device secured to said piston adjacent the cylinder and to the casing adjacent the open end thereof, and a member having a press t within said casing, said member being secured to said device.

24. In an automatically expansible valve takeup device, the combination with a casing formed to provide a cylinder, of a piston movable in said cylinder, means yieldingly urging said piston outwardly of said cylinder, a fluid reservoir supplying liquid to said cylinder on outwardmove` ment of the piston, means resisting rapid discharge of liquid from said cylinder, means -form ing with said reservoir and cylinder a closed fluid system disposed wholly within said casing, and

means resisting rapid dis.

means whereby said uid system may be completely lled with liquid, said means including an aperture formed in the head endvof said cylinder, and a closure element receivable in said aperture. I

. 25. In an automatically expansible valve takeup device, the combination with a casing formed to provide a cylinder, of a piston movable in said cylinder, means yieldingly urging said piston outwardly 'of said cylinder, a fluid reservoir supplying liquid to said cylinder on outward movement of the piston, means resisting rapid discharge of liquid from said cylinder, and means forming withsaid reservoir and cylinder a closed fluid system completely filled with liquid, said last named means including a longitudinally extensible bellows secured to said piston at points adjacent the cylinder and to the casing atpoints remote from said cylinder. f

26. Asan article of manufacture, a valve tappet automatically adjustable as to effective length and of dimensions .comparable with those of conventional non-adjustable tappets, said tappet including a cylinder and piston, a sealed iiuid system including s'aid cylinder completely lled with liquid, elastic means comprising a metallic bellows acting between said cylinden and piston urging the latter -outwardly of the cylinder, said elastic means sealing said system against discharge of liquid, and means whereby the elements of said tappet are locked in operative relation'to form a complete and self-contained u nit, said iluid system being disposed wholly within the connes of said casing.

FRANK C. BEST. 

